For most people the thought of purchasing property on the other side of the world is generally not considered as a great investment opportunity simply because it’s so far away from home, yet for many people out there Argentina is becoming a major destination for big and small real estate investors alike as new plots open up and more and more foreigners are welcome to purchase land.

For a plot of land in a new development complete with a golf course, swimming pool, vineyard and beautiful scenery you’ll be needing to pay out around $110,000 USD, whereas developing that land into a comfortable “home away from home” is an additional $1,200 USD per square meter. That means for less than 300,000 Pounds you could have your own comfortable home in a high-end neighbourhood with good neighbours and a beautiful view (not to mention affordable house service, such as cleaning, gardening and cooking).

Seem like a bit much? For some it can be, especially when taken into consideration against everything else available locally for that price, until you compare that value to what similar places just a short distance away are worth. Travel a few hours north or south from a new development such as this and you’ll be looking at paying two to four times the price right away for such an establishment, or even ten times that in some place such as the United States.

Attraction such as these are what are leading many people to seek out overseas mortgages for home purchase rather than looking at domestic offerings simply because of the value available by buying elsewhere, and even many first time buyers are looking at going global with their home purchase rather than competing with everyone else in the domestic market. In sheer cost-to-benefit comparison it’s difficult to match what you can buy in developing countries and the return on investment they will bring in over a year or so if all you’re thinking about is your local neighbourhood, so check out what’s available to you now before the economy picks up full-swing again and soon nothing will be left, especially if you’re looking at taking out a local mortgage anyway for your home purchase.

In property news from Brazil, Sam Zell, a “world property guru ” intends to open a real estate financing company in Brazil. Record-low interest rates there are increasing the demand for such invenstments.

Zell owns the Equity International real estate investment company. Its chief strategic officer Thomas McDonald, confirmed that the plan is in the works. He added that it may open its own company to provide financing to real estate developers.

Zell has spoken long and eloquently about the benefits of investing in real estate in Brazil. It is a country with a shortage of affordable housing and infrastructures that support foreign investment.

Brazil is self-sufficient, Zell pointed out, and has a strong pool of skilled professionals and otherwise unlimited resources.

‘If you look at all of the facts, I don’t think there is a better environment in all the world than Brazil.’ Indeed, he expects Brazil could surpass China in economic might in 30 years.

A 5% cut in Brazil’s Selic interest rate this year to 8.75% and a $18 billion housing stimulus plan announced by the government in March have boosted demand for residential and commercial real estate investments.

‘Real estate financing in Brazil is tenant-based, depending on the quality of the tenant, rather than the quality of the property. The banks have to get an understanding of real estate and look beyond the tenant. We’d love to help jumpstart that,’ said McDonald.